27 things I've learned in 27 years
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I won’t begin to claim I know it all.
Far from it. But there are a few things I’ve picked up these past 27 years that I wanted to reflect on and share with you. Hey, who knows, maybe one of these things might help you!
27 is an interesting age for me. I remember as a kid I would tell people I wanted to be married by 24 and have my first kid at 27. I honestly want to laugh out loud at the thought of that. I couldn’t be farther from that reality and I’ve gotta say I’m so happy that’s the case. I feel so grateful to be EXACTLY where I am in my life right now and I can’t imagine things being any different than the way they are. I’m learning, growing, traveling and every day I wake up and think, is this real? SPOILER: it is!
Okay, let’s get into these 27 things. This post is going to be harder to write once I get to be 57 or something. But who knows if blogs will exist then? A problem for a later date lol.
Travel makes you a better person
Not only does travel fill you up with experiences, sights you’ve never seen and friendships around the world, it also makes you a global citizen. Empathy for others is hard to come by these days and I think understanding other cultures is one of the most important things we can do. Spend a day walking in someone else’s shoes, it will undoubtedly change your perspective.
Embrace what makes you different
I think this is one of those things we hear people say all the time but rarely act on. Growing up I spent so much time worrying about fitting in or not being “weird”. But now I FULLY embrace the weird. I own the fact that I’m a crazy cat lady, I rarely can be serious in photos and nerdy dancing at bars is a favorite past time of mine. So I encourage ALL OF YOU to find the things that make you unique and lean into those.
Say no
For most of my life, I was a yes girl. Yes I’ll go to that dinner, yes I’ll stay late at work, yes I’ll let you borrow that dress, yes I’ll do that thing I really don’t want to do but feel like I have to, and on and on and on. Now, I LOVE to say no. I think all my yeses stemmed from the fear of missing out. But once I realized how much I was putting others before myself I took a step back and started to say no. Let me tell you, it feels so good!
Staying in is AWESOME
I go to bed most Friday and Saturday nights at 9:30 p.m. It’s incredible.
Quality over quantity
This holds true for two of my favorite things: clothes and friends. With friends, I feel like less is more. A true, deep connection is so much better than having a posse of people surrounding you. Same goes for clothes. The good ones stand the test of time. Stop filling your closet with fast fashion.
Embrace your body
I’ve spent most of my early 20s HATING my body. Obsessing over extra weight, curvy hips, thick thighs, my arms, blah, blah, blah. But what I’ve come to realize is my body is SO powerful and I need to be thanking it every day for what it does for me. The mere fact that I’m healthy, able to walk and talk and live the life I want is a miracle. I refuse to nitpick my body any more.
Don’t wait for retirement
I’ve listened to so many people say they’re going to __________ when they retire. I don’t mean to be morbid but is there any guarantee you’ll live that long? Nothing is guaranteed. So why wait to see the world, pick up a hobby or focus on your side hustle? The time is now!
DRINK ALL THE WATER
It’s the secret to everything.
Invest in experiences
I used to be all about having more, more & more. And I won’t say that mentality is completely gone but I’m turning more towards spending money on experiences rather than things. I’ve started asking for plane tickets for my birthday and Christmas instead of a new bag or shoes.
A night of dancing can cure just about anything
There’s seriously NOTHING better than jumping up and down to top 40 songs, surrounded by your friends, scream-singing every word.
Shampoo only goes on your scalp
I can’t believe it took me 27 years to figure this one out...
TSA Global Entry is worth every penny
Pay the $100. It will save you so much time and energy!
If you can’t be the smartest person in the room be the hardest working
We all can’t be the smartest, I learned that early on when my mom made me take the ACT 7 times and my score only improved by 1 point after those 7 takes. BUT what you can do is make sure you’re the first person in and the last one to leave. Offer your help, be humble and learn everything you can. People will always notice.
BE NICE!
Being nice gets you SO FAR. I’ve discovered you can solve most problems with a smile and a level head. Yelling, insulting, getting angry gets you nowhere. And if anything people are more likely to help someone who asks politely rather than demands things.
Always bring a change of shoes
Just a rule to live by.
Gratitude is everything
I’ve started writing in my 5-minute journal every morning and every night. It reminds me of what I need to prioritize, what I’m grateful for and what I accomplished that day.
Your mom is always right
I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Just accept it.
Success is nothing if you’re not serving others
Since entering this entrepreneurial journey I’ve come to learn that the most important thing I can do is help others. Success is not about showing off all the cool things you’re doing. Instead, it’s about growing your community and focusing all your efforts towards solving a problem. Once you figure out how you can serve that’s when you find success.
PUT YOUR BLINDERS ON
Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing. Focus on you! It’s amazing to think of how much time we spend thinking about others when we could be focusing on our work or our passion.
You’re going to make mistakes, that’s okay
I chased perfection for years and felt that failure something to avoid. But in reality, failure is the only real way we learn. Sure it sucks and it’s scary and there are different types of failure but ultimately it’s important to understand what failure feels like to know just how sweet success can be.
CATS RULE DOGS DROOL
No explanation needed.
Trust your gut
I’ve come to learn my intuition has only been wrong a handful of times. The rest of the time, I’m spot on. The problem? I don’t always listen to my gut instinct. So as I get older I’m really focusing on attracting people full of positive energy and blocking out the negative. We have instincts for a reason, use them.
WEAR SUNSCREEN
Always always always. Just do it.
You have to be in it for the long haul
There is really no such thing as overnight success, unless you become internet famous for something totally crazy. If you don’t manage to become a meme then you need to be willing to stay in the game until it’s your turn. Taking shortcuts might help in the short term but ultimately putting in the time and effort will pay off.
The best part of any wedding is the dance floor
Bring your best dance moves.
Be ready at a moments notice to show people what you’re made of
Sometimes the best opportunities come when you least expect it. Be ready to act.
Your path is never a straight line
I could have NEVER imagined the path I’m currently on. Not in a million years. But I’m THRILLED to be exactly where I am right now.
No one knows what they’re doing
Seriously though, everyone is just figuring it out. There are of course different levels of figuring it out but everyone is just trying to make it work. So if you ever feel lost or confused don’t worry, we’re all in the same boat.
I seem pretty wise huh? I promise I’m not lol. I just picked up a few things from all those podcasts I’ve been listening to. But for real, I hope some of the lessons I’ve learned can help you. And hey! Maybe I’ll make this a birthday tradition.
xx
